“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ― Albert Einstein

Family Life

Objectives:  To gain a better understanding of what happens after fertilization.  To be able to identify the three stages of pregnancy and what occurs during each one.  To better understand the process of fetal development.  To identify the pros and cons of having a baby now and/or in the future

Seat Partner Activity 1.Make a list of the pros and cons of having a baby as a teenager 2.Make a list of the pros and cons of having a baby as an “adult.” 3.When do you believe is the right time to have a baby?

“In the best of all possible worlds, childbirth enriches a relationship. In the worst, it harms it. No matter how good their relationship is, most couples find that having a baby challenges their relationship.”

Let’s review fertilization…  Fertilization defined: The joining of an ovum (an egg) and a sperm. This takes place in the fallopian tubes. To get a clear picture, please watch this amazing video…

But what happens after that? A whole heck of a lot... Basically, there are three stages of prenatal development: 1. Germinal Stage 2. Embryonic Stage 3. Fetal Stage And, pregnancy is broken into three trimesters. 1 st Trimester- From Fertilization through week 12 2 nd Trimester- Weeks rd Trimester- Weeks 28-40

Fetal Development  Read the article entitled Prenatal Development: An in-depth look and answer the questions on the corresponding worksheet.  Once we finish our worksheet, we will view another brief video.

Terms to be familiar with…  Fetus-an unborn, developing mammal, after the embryonic stage.  Placenta- the organ formed in the lining of the uterus by the union of the uterine mucous membrane with the membranes of the fetus, that provides for the nourishment of the fetus and the elimination of its waste products.  Umbilical cord- a cord connecting the embryo or fetus with the placenta of the mother and transporting nourishment from the mother and wastes from the fetus.

What exactly is childbirth? The human act or process of giving birth; also known as labor. Labor, by definition means physical or mental exertion, especially when difficult or exhausting; work.

Some facts and statistics related to childbirth:  More than FOUR million babies are born each year in the United States.  The most popular day for babies to be born is Wednesday; Sunday is the least common day.  With about 1,049 male babies for every 1,000 female babies in 2006, boys are keeping the edge in a ratio that's stayed about the same over the past 60 years.  Some women deliver babies “naturally,” or without the help of pain medication.

There are two different types of deliveries: Vaginal Births The human act or process of giving birth via vaginal canal. Cesarean Sections (C-Section) A surgical procedure in which incisions are made through a woman's abdomen and uterus to deliver her baby.

Post-Delivery of Baby Immediately following the birth of the baby, doctors and nurses perform an examination of the baby and conduct various tests on the baby to check his or her wellness.  One of the most important tests conducted is: Apgar Test- a numerical measure of the physical health of a newborn infant derived by evaluating heart rate, muscle tone, respiratory effort, response to stimulation, skin color, and other physiological indicators.

And then what?

Conclusion  From fertilization until childbirth, many changes take place inside the uterus.  The three stages of pregnancy include:  The Germinal Stage  The Embryonic Stage  The Fetal Stage  All three stages are critical during this process.  The process of giving birth is an arduous task; that is why it is called labor.